LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash and Sony Unveil Virtual Recording Software

With 12 studio albums under his belt, a hosting gig at the 2012 Grammys and a recurring role on NCIS: Los Angeles, LL Cool J can’t be blamed for wanting to spend less time traveling back and forth to the nearest recording studio. Thus, the multi-platinum-selling rapper has teamed up with Sony to create My Connect Studio, the new software that allows artists and producers to pitch in during a real-time, virtual recording session.

According to LL Cool J, the idea for My Connect Studio sprung out of a current frustration with the process of recording music when the parties involved are in multiple locations.

“[Producers] e-mail me the track,” he explained at the press conference in the Sony building in New York City on Wednesday. “I’m e-mailing vocals. They don’t like something; I’m sending it back. We’re going back and forth and doing this dance. A lot of music is being created that way right now. What I wanted to do is be able to create music in real-time.”

During the press event, LL Cool J demonstrated the product and invited DJ Grandmaster Flash to spin. The rapper also revealed that he has been using My Connect Studio to record tracks for his upcoming album, which he calls “authentic hip-hop.”

My Connect Studio can be used on any PC computer, although it is being marketed as a part of the Sony VAIO E14P Future Sounds bundle that includes Dolby home theater audio technology, Sony DJ style headphones and a one-year subscription to Boomdizzle, LL Cool J’s social network for discovering up-and-coming hit-makers.

For the time being, users can meet and collaborate with other artists on My Connect Studio for free, but paid subscription plans are expected. Sony engineers are currently working on versions of the software for Macs and mobile platforms.